Folded carton opener



March 22, 1949. s. H. BERCH FOLDED CARTON OPENER Filed July 19, 1947 I INVENTOR, .fiA/w/a /2 5520/1 BY ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- 2 Claims.

This invention relates to the packaging of food products and particularly pertains to a folded carton opener.

In the packaging of ice cream and other frozen products in a carton of the type shown in my copending application entitled Carton for ice cream and the like, Serial No. 561,235, filed by me on October 31, 1944, (now Patent No. 2,443,530) it was contemplated that frozen products such as ice cream would be packaged in quantities for individual servings, and that the packages would either be sold to the retail trade or to soda fountains, restaurants and the like. In actual practice it has been found that since the packages are maintained under refrigeration there is some difiiculty in removing the container from the mass of material which has been packaged, particularly when the packaged product is to be served quickly in a glass or dish such as would be the case at a soda fountain. It is desirable, therefore, to provide simple means for opening and separating the walls of the container from the frozen mass of material which has been packaged therein, and it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a package opener which is simple in construction, has no movable parts, and which will operate to open a container and to quickly remove the open package and its contents therefrom.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a base member carrying a pair of horizontally spaced finger plates between which a package of the character described may be disposed, and which plates will move into positions between the folds of the package to separate them and place the unfolded package in a position to be removed with its contents and for the contents to be deposited in a, dish or other receptacle.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in plan showing the carton blank which is used in making the package.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in perspective showing the filled and closed package.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in perspective showing the package opener with which the present invention is concerned.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in side elevation showing the package opener and with the package in its initial position upon the finger plates of the device.

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation similar to Fig. 4 showing the package in its full open position and ready to be removed therefrom.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

It indicates a blank from which a carton is made, it being understood that this particular carton has been described in detail in my co-pending application entitled Carton for ice cream and the like, Serial No. 561,235. In this carton a central square structure is provided which is divided into nine square fields. The nine fields are defined by transverse score lines 12 and I3, and longitudinal score marks [4 and I5. These score marks thus delineate a center field l3 which provides the bottom of the carton, opposite side fields I! and I8, which are hinged to the center field l6 along score marks l4 and I5, and side wall sections 19 and 20 which are hinged to the center section [6 along score marks l2 and I3. The score lines l3 and I4 define a corner square 2| which has a diagonal score line 22 to provide a gusset. The score lines l3 and I 5 form a corner square 23 provided with a diagonal score line 24 to form a gusset. The score lines l2 and I4 form a corner field 25 provided with a diagonal line 26 to form a gusset. The score lines l2 and I5 form a corner field 21 having a diagonal score line 28 to form a corner gusset. The outer edge of the field 20 is defined by a score line 29 to which is hinged a square outer cover field 30. The opposite sides of the field 3B are defined by score marks 3! and 32, and the outer edge of the field 30 is defined by an edge 33. At the outer edge of the side field I9 is a square inner cover flap 34 which is divided from the field I9 by an intermediate score line 35. At the outer edge of the cover flap 34 is a pulling tang 36. Side edges 31 and 38 form continuations of the'score lines l4 and I5. The opposite outer edges of the square central portion of the blank are defined by parallel edge lines 39 and 40. The ends of the gusset fields 25 and 21 are cut away, as indicated by the lines 4| and 42. The outer edges of the gusset fields 2| and 23 are defined by edge lines 43 and 44 which are a continuation of the score line 29. Hinged to the cover field 30 along the score lines 3| and 32 are substantially triangular flaps 45 and 46 which have arcuate edges to fold down into the gussets formed by the gusset fields 25 and 21. Tangs 41 and 48 are formed on the flaps 45 and 46 and are inserted into slots 49 and 5!! extending along the score marks 26 and 28, respectively.

A blank as previously described is placed in a forming and filling machine, such as shown in my co-pending application entitled Packaging machine for ice cream and the like, Serial No. 631,331. The finally filled and closed package is in the condition asindicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. These packages are placed in refrigerated storage containers for further use.

In order to prevent the bottom of the package from Sticking to the structure the hemispherical member 66 is provided.

The present invention is concerned with a device by which the filled package above described is opened and placed in a condition for emptying the contents therefrom. This structure is generally indicated at in Fig. 3 and comprises a base 52 which has sufficient weight to cause it to set firmly on a counter or the like. The base as here shown is square and is formed in its upper face and at its center with a square counterseat 53. Fitted within this counterseat is a U- shaped member havin a square bottom plate 54 and carrying a pair of vertically extending spring plates 55 and 55. The spring plates 55 and 56 are substantially parallel to each other, having vertical parallel edges 51 and 58 which continue in upwardly and inwardly inclined edges 59 and (ill. The inclined edges 59 and 69 define a substantially triangular area which terminates in finger portions 6|. These portions are bent inwardly slightly for a purpose to be hereinafter described and have blunt ends 82. The U- shaped member is preferably made of spring steel so that the finger plates 55 and 56 may flex toward and away from each other. The portion 55 is firmly secured to the base and within the counterseat 53 by screws 63. The dimension of the portion 54 agrees substantially with the dimension of the field l5 of the carton blank and package. Thus the finger plates 55 and 56 are spaced a distance apart substantially equal to the width of the bottom of the package and the finger portions 6! turn in slightly so that they will move along the sides I! and N3 of the package and slide upwardly beneath the folded gusset corners 2| and on one side of the package and the corners 23 and 21 on the opposite side of the package. The edges 51 and 58 of the finger plates are thus spaced apart a distance which will permit them to move along the folded score lines l2 and I3 of the package. The height of the fingers is sufficiently greater than the height of the package to insure that when the package is moved downwardly over the fingers to the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings the blunt edges 62 will engage the underface of the cover field 3!] and thus will force the cover upwardly as the package is moved down to a point of rest upon the protrusion 65,

The completely filled and sealed package, as generally indicated at 54 in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and as previously explained, is usually maintained in refrigeration storage. This causes the mass of material 65 to adhere to the contiguous inner surfaces of the package. It is to be understood that when ice cream or the like is the material within the package that the mass 65 will be in the form and condition of a solid cube. In order to remove the container from the solid mass of material 65 the package 64 is placed over the upper edges of the finger plates 55 and 56, with the sides I! and 18 parallel to the finger plates 55 and 5E. The finger portions 6! of the side plates are then slightly spread so that they will accommodate the width of the package and will bear against the side walls I! and [8, it being understood that the finger plates 55 and 56 are resilient so that the blunt edges 62 at the ends of the fingers 6| will be held yieldably against the side walls I! and I8 of the carton. The package is then moved downwardly over the finger plates to the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing at which time the upper tapered ends of the finger plates will pass between the folded gusset corners 2| and 25 and the side wall I8 on one side of the carton and between the folded gusset corners 23 and 21 and the wall H on the opposite side of the carton. As the package 64 is moved downwardly over the finger plates 55 and 56 the upper blunt edges 62 of the fingers 6| will encounter the inner face of the cover portion 30 as shown in Fig. l. Pressure of the operator's hand may then be applied to the carton walls I9 and 20 as the package is moved downwardly to a position substantially at rest upon the protrusion 65. When this takes place the blunt ends 62 of the finger plates 55 will act to swing the cover 35 upwardly along its hinged line 29. As the the cover field 30 swings upwardly the locking tangs 51 will be withdrawn from the slots 49 and 50 formed along the diagonal score lines 26 and 28 of the gusset corners 25 and 21. When pressure is relieved from the opposite side walls I 9 and 2%! the cover 32 may be swung in the direction of the arrow :1, as indicated in Fig. 5, and the field 3 may be swung in the direction of the arrow b, as indicated in Fig. 5. This will cause the corner gussets 2| 23, 25 and 21 to unfold as the walls 59 and 20 swing downwardly. The operator may then grasp the cover 30 and the field 3:3 and lift the unfolded container with its contents 65 upwardly and free of the finger plates 55 and 55. While still firmly holding the portions 39 and 34, they may be drawn outwardly to unfold the corner gussets completely, and at the same time this drawing action will tend to pull the carton sides Ill and I8 free from the mass of product 65. When that takes place the mass of material 65 will be adhering to the center field E6 of the carton, and when the carton is turned over the mass of material 65 may be dropped into a serving receptacle.

It will thus be seen that the means here provided for unfolding and opening a carton formed from a one-piece folded blank as here described is simple in construction, has no moving parts, is sanitary, and will insure that cartons may be quickly opened and emptied.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes may be made in combination, construction and arrangement of parts by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for opening folded cartons, which cartons are characterized as being made from a blank folded upon itself to form a bottom wall, carton side walls integral therewith, corner gusset sections overlapping each other and opposite side walls, and a cover section having tangs which fold down into said gussets; said carton opener comprising a flat face structure, a pair of spring finger plates secured thereto and projecting at right angles from the face thereof, said finger plates being disposed with their'flat faces parallel and in spaced relation to each other a distance slightly greater than the width of the carton, each oi the plates having a lower portion defined by parallel straight edges slightly less than the width of the side walls of the carton and an upper portion defined by oppositely and inwardly inclined edges, the length of said fingers being greater than the height of the carton,,whereby the free tapered ends may extend along opposite sides of the carton and pass between the contiguous carton walls and the overlapping folded gussets, the ends of said finger plates engaging the cover section as the carton moves between the finger plates to swing the carton open and to hold the carton while the side gussets are unfolded and the remaining sides of the carton are drawn outwardly and downwardly toward the plane of the bottom wall.

2. A device for opening folded cartons, which cartons are characterized as being made from a blank folded upon itself to form a bottom wall, carton side walls integral therewith, corner gusset sections overlapping each other and opposite side walls, and a cover section having tangs which fold down into said gussets; said carton opener comprising a fiat face structure, a pair of spring finger plates secured thereto and projecting at right angles from the face thereof, said finger plates being disposed with their fiat faces parallel and. in spaced relation to each other a distance slightly greater than the width of the carton, each of the plates having a lower portion defined by parallel straight edges slightly less than the width of the side Walls of the carton and an upper portion defined by oppositely and inwardly inclined edges, the length of said fingers being greater than the height of the carton, the terminating ends of the fingers being bent inwardly toward each other, whereby the free tapered ends may extend along opposite sides of the carton and pass between the contiguous carton walls and the overlapping folded gussets, the ends of said finger plates engaging the cover section as the carton moves between the finger plates to swing the carton open and to hold the carton while the side gussets are unfolded and the remaining sides of the carton are drawn outwardly and downwardly toward the plane of the bottom wall.

SAMUEL H. BERCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,287,357 Leary Dec. 10, 1918 1,880,460 Morris Oct. 4, 1932 

